Cord control for vacuum cleaners



Dec. 27, 1932. v, UTLEY CORD CONTROL FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed March 14, 1930 CLARENCE M UTLEY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1932 PATENT OFFEQE CLARENCE V. UTLT-Y, OF COLUMBUS, OHIG CORD CONTRGL FOR VACUUM CLEANER-S Application filed IEarch '5 his invention relates to a reel for holding the cord of a vacuum cleaner on a part of the handled the cleaner, the general object of the invention being to provide a spring actu; ated reel which will normally hold the cord wound upon the reel so that the cord can be easily pulled from the reel, with means for holding the reel unwound or partly unwound with the desired length or. cord pulled therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means for making the proper electrical connection between the conductors in all positions oi the reel, and to provide a uniform and protective method of winding the cord on the reel.

This invention also consists in certain other features or" construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appendedclaim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through part of a handle of a vacuum cleaner constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 1.

In these views, the numeral 1 indicates a portion of the handle of a cleaner and the numeral 2 indicates another portion thereof, these portions being connected together in spaced relation by a tube 3 which has its ends fitting in bores formed at the centers of the portions. A sleeve 4 is fastened to each portion and extends into the space formed by the two portions, each sleeve being held in place by a screw 5 which also engages the tube 3 and thus holds the parts assembled. A reel 6 is 14, 1930. Serial No. 435,873.

rotatably arranged on the tube and is located in the space between the two portions, the ends of the reel fitting in the sleeves and said reel is formed with a spiral groove 7 for receiving the cord 8 which contains the conductors 9. A spring 10 encircles the tube and has one end connected with the reel, as shown at 11, and its other end is connected with the tube, as shown at 12. bus the spring holds the reel in a position with the cord wound thereon, as shown in Figure 1. The conduc tors 9 of that part of the cord on the reel are connected with the two rings 18 carried by one end of the reel and these rings are engaged by the two brushes 14 carried by the upper end of the portion 1 of the handle. A conductor 15 is connected with one of these brushes and passes through a portion of the tube to the motor of the cleaner, the other conductor 16 passing through the tube to the upper end of the handle where it is connected to the usual switch 17 and a conductor 18 passes from the switch through the tube and is connected with the other brush. A bar 19 has its ends fastened to the sleeves 4 and extends in front of the reel and acts as a guide for the cord being pulled from the reel.

A pair of pawls 20 is carried by the upper end of the reel and either one of these pawls is adapted to engage a notch 21 formed in a cam 22 attached to the tube 3 adjacent the upper end of the reel. These parts act to hold the reel in unwound or partly unwound position the same as a shade roller is held by its pawls. l v' hen the reel is revolving at considerable speed, centrifugal force will throw the pawls 2O outwardly so that they will not engage the notch in the cam, but by slackening the speed of the reel, one of the pawls will engage the notch and thus prevent further movement of the reel by the spring.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the switch 17 is moved to closed position, current will flow from the source of supply through the conductors in the cord ttached to the reel and will then pass through the rings 13 and brushes 14 through the conductors 15, 18 and 16 and the switch, to the motor of the cleaner, and this will take place no matter what position the reel is in. Any

desired length of cord can be pulled from the reel by simply exerting a pull on the cable or cord and then by slackening the movement of the reel, one of the dogs 20 will engage the 5 notch 21 and hold the reel in this position with the cord unwound or partly unwound therefrom. lVhen the cord is to be wound on the reel after the device has been used, it is simply necessary to give the cord a slight pull to free the pawl from the notch, when the spring will wind the cord upon the reel.

The reel is made of non-conducting material.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and nov 1 features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts,

provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

hat I claim is A cord reel comprising a handle including a pair of sections each having a bore, a tube extending in said bores to arrange the sections in spaced relation and adapted to house electrical conductors extending between said sections, sleeves fitted to the opposing ends of the sections and projecting beyond said ends,

39 fastening means securing the sleeves and tube to the sections, a self-winding reel for supporting the electrical conductors journalled on the tube with the ends thereof received and journalled in the sleeve, and a guide element 05 connecting the sleeves and extending parallel with the reel to be engaged by the conductors of the reel during its movements onto and oi? the reel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

40 CLARENCE V. UTLEY. 

